Folk Art Center

Appalachian Craft at Milepost 382

The Folk Art Center is the home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and sits directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 382, on the east side of Asheville. It is one of the best places to see and buy traditional and contemporary craft from the region: pottery, weaving, wood, glass, jewelry, and more.

What Is Inside

According to the Guild, the center has a Main Gallery and Focus Gallery with rotating exhibitions, the Allanstand Craft Shop (which it says was established in 1895 and is the oldest craft shop in America), and the Robert W. Gray Library with more than 20,000 volumes on craft. Artisans give craft demonstrations from March through December. The Guild notes the Parkway is open and accessible where the center is located.

Plan Your Visit

The center is reached from the Parkway (take I-40 exit 55 and follow the signs). Check the Guild's page for current hours. The Guild also runs the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in October at Harrah's Cherokee Center. Pair the visit with Craggy Gardens and see the Parkway guide.